 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Genesis 2:20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field.  Although I've seen the loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) perched on wires in the past, I won't count a species until I photograph it. This was a life bird photo I was hoping to catch on my visit to the Braswell Church Road eBird Hotspot. The Loggerhead Shrike is the only member of the shrike family endemic to North America Tuesday - on my way home from work I took a 5 mile diversion to ride past the pastures and ponds on Braswell Church Road in Walton County, Georgia. This is a bit of an out-of-the-way rural area, so how did I find out about it? When I finally ditched the flip-phone and upgraded to a smartphone in November 2017 (happy anniversary!) I entered into a whole new realm nature enthusiasm: bird listing! All the features of eBird – life lists, yard counts, checklist totals, birding streaks, top 100 eBirders – walked lock-step with my type-A personality! Okay, so how did that bring me to some pungent, manure-rich soils in the country looking for birds? eBird Hotspots! Hotspots are existing public locations where many birders are entering data… and they are all conveniently marked and mapped on the eBird app! Walton County, Georgia  An Eastern Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe, songbird perched on barbed wire fence of a pasture on a Braswell Church Road cattle farm. November 2018 in Walton County, GA. This tyrant flycatcher breeds in eastern North America, although its normal range does not include the southeastern coastal United States.  Several Eurasian Collared-Doves perched along the fences of the cattle barns on Braswell Church Road, an eBirding Hotspot.  Loggerhead Shrike perched on pasture barbed wire fence. It is nicknamed the butcherbird after its carnivorous tendencies, as it consumes prey such as amphibians, insects, lizards, small mammals and small birds, and some prey end up displayed and stored at a site, for example in a tree.  Loggerhead Shrike; Walton County, Georgia. Due to its small size and weak talons, this predatory bird relies on impaling its prey upon thorns or barbed wire for facilitated consumption.
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 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. "Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work." Psalms 111:2 "...the brave little bird ever beside them, singing with sweet human tones among the waltzing foam-bells, and like a blessed evangel explaining God's love." - John Muir  White-throated Sparrow songbird, Georgia USA White Throated Sparrow fall migration songbird in Monroe, Walton County, GA. The white-throated sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis is a passerine bird of the American sparrow family. In winter, this species migrates to the southern and eastern United States. It stays year round in the Atlantic provinces of Canada. Photographed in fall of 2018. Monday, November 26 - the fog that hung around all day yesterday was completely blown off by the chilly winds. The sky was bright and blue, but the wind was cutting and brisk. I didn't expect to see too many birds out facing these breezes, but I was wrong! Sunny but very windy. High near 50.  Eastern Towhee songbird on windy fall day, Georgia USA Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus, with fluffed feathers on chilly fall day; November 2018 in Walton County, GA. The eastern towhee occurs throughout the eastern United States and southeast Canada.  A silly Palm Warbler appears as if he is looking at me from between his legs! Tuesday, November 27 - Once again a bright, clear blue sky but very chilly winds. Frost persists in the shady areas and a few of the small puddles have a crystal thin layer of ice on top of them. Currently 35°F. Today: Sunny, with a high near 44.  Thirty-two Canada Geese were swimming on the upper pond at sunrise. As I circled the pond, they took to the sky for another pond.  Thirty-two Canada Geese were swimming on the upper pond at sunrise. As I circled the pond, they took to the sky for another pond. Wednesday, November 28 - the bright clear skies are continueing, but so is the cold and wind! The birding lists have been a bit shorter this week. I suppose it is because many of the birds are out of sight seeking sheltered spots out of the breezes... or because the cold drives me back indoors more quickly! Today: Sunny, with a high near 46. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.  Two Red-tailed Hawks cut through the sky over the main retention pond and into the tops of some Loblolly Pines at the northern end of the pond. They eventually flew off north, persuaded by the harassment of some Blue Jays.  Three Killdeer briefly circled over the main retention pond. Walton County, Georgia. Thursday, November 29 - It has warmed up a bit and the chilly winds have died down. The bright morning sun was overshadowed by cloud cover that moved in around noon. High near 56. Calm wind.  White-throated Sparrow; Walton County, Georgia.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. "Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is His work." Psalms 111:2  I spotted the Orange-crowned Warbler again on December 3, 2018 and was able to get a much closer and more detailed photo in favorable light. Orange-crowned warbler bird, Vermivora celata, perched on a honeysuckle vine in Walton County, GA in late fall. These birds migrate to the southern United States and south to Central America. Orange-crowned Warblers sometimes visit feeders for suet, peanut butter, or sugar water. Monday, 9:27 AM - the fog that hung around all day yesterday was definitely blown off by the chilly winds this morning. The sky was bright and blue, but the wind cutting and brisk. I didn't expect to see too many birds out facing these gales, much less a lifer! As I approached the entangled thickets along the firing range berm, several little birds were flitting in the brush out of the reach of the breezes. I quickly fixed my lens on one and realized I couldn't quite ID it; was it a new warbler for me? Sure enough! An Orange-crowned Warbler! Wikipedia states: Their breeding habitat is open shrubby areas across Canada, Alaska and the western United States. These birds migrate to the southern United States and south to Central America. They forage actively in low shrubs, flying from perch to perch, sometimes hovering. These birds eat insects, berries and nectar. The song of this bird is a trill, descending in pitch and volume. The call is a high chip. Walton County, Georgia  Life bird photograph of an Orange-crowned Warbler; Walton County, Georgia. November 26, 2018.   William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Psalm 26:7-8 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,  Great Blue Heron skimming over the waters of Lake Oconee. Greene County, Georgia. Thanksgiving Day - perhaps I should have been helping in the kitchen with the preparations, but I couldn't resist a mid-morning walk down to the boat launch onto Lake Oconee. I was able to add a few more bird species to my Greene County list.  A Carolina Wren singing in the fall foliage; Greene County, Georgia.  Chipping Sparrow; Greene County, Georgia.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Proverbs 30:18-19 There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yes, four which I do not understand: The way of an eagle in the air, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a virgin.  A young Bald Eagle soaring over the Hard Labor Creek Regional Reservoir in Walton County, Georgia. Wednesday, 12:36 PM - being off at noon for Thanksgiving Eve, I decided to visit the Hard Labor Creek Regional Reservoir. The reservoir opened in March 2018. It is in the southeastern unincorporated region of Walton County, Georgia, near both Social Circle. Over the last few months, I've had several people tell me that they'd heard about Bald Eagles regularly appearing there. I had to go and see for myself.  A Double-crested Cormorant diving out in the open waters of the Hard Labor Creek Reservoir. Being a large 1,370 acre area, there was no telling where the Bald Eagles would be, if there at all. I parked near the small fire station and walked down to the boat ramp. A little Grebe swam off to my right. Cormorants could be seen fishing in the distance. And amazingly, I didn't have to wait too long, two young Bald Eagles circled the skies just above the bridge.
If I had not seen the two at one time, I might have thought there was only one individual. It took some time to compare the splotches of white in the photographs to tell these individuals apart.  A Pied-billed Grebe swimming on a Georgia lake in fall season, 2018. Hard Labor Creek Reservoir in Walton County, Social Circle, GA. The pied-billed grebe Podilymbus podiceps is a species of duck like water birds. Other names of this grebe include American dabchick, dabchick, Carolina grebe, devil-diver, dive-dapper, dipper, hell-diver, pied-billed dabchick, pied-bill, thick-billed grebe, and water witch.  Pied-billed Grebe on Hard Labor Creek Regional Reservoir; Walton County, Georgia.  Pied-billed Grebe on Hard Labor Creek Regional Reservoir; Walton County, Georgia. Thursday, November 29 - a made another quick lunch-break trip down to the reservoir. I didn't see any of the eagles this time, but the firefighters at the fire station said they've seen two white-headed adults in addition to the immature birds I saw last week. I think I will recommend this location as an eBird Hot Spot! Cloud cover moved in around noon. High near 56. Calm wind.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Psalm 37:3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.  River Otter; Walton County, Georgia USA. November 2018. The North American river otter Lontra canadensis, also known as the northern river otter or the common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. The pair of River Otter have now become bold enough to take to the main and upper retention ponds throughout the day. They either do not see me as they concentrate upon their fish, or are no longer bothered by my presence. I have had some great up-close opportunities of late. On Monday, November 21, one sat at the far end of the upper pond which is more secluded. He chewed and chewed and chewed away at a large bream fish that he held between his claws. On Tuesday afternoon, one was right at the close end of the upper pond near the driveway. He was diving as I approached, and perhaps didn't see me. I was able to stand within fifty feet of him as he repeatedly dove, caught small fish, and paused to chew them up and swallow them down. Perhaps they are preparing for a lean winter, but I am shocked at how much fish they can eat! Walton County, Georgia  River Otter eating fish on Georgia beaver pond  River Otter eating fish on Georgia beaver pond  River Otter; Walton County, Georgia USA. November 2018. The North American river otter Lontra canadensis, also known as the northern river otter or the common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts.   William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Exodus 8:18 The magicians tried to produce gnats with their incantations but this time they couldn’t do it. There were gnats everywhere, all over people and animals.  The blue-gray gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea, is a very small songbird in the eastern and southwestern United States, and Mexico. They forage actively in trees or shrubs, mainly eating insects, insect eggs and spiders. Photographed in fall in Walton County, Monroe, Georgia USA. Monday, 4:05 PM - Even though eBird has it listed as a rare bird for this area during this time of the year, a little Blue-gray Gnatchatcher keeps popping up day after day. He is quite the proficient finder of insects! On the recent spotting, he was fittingly grasping a gnat in his mouth and attempting to gobble it down. On his second appearance, an inchworm wriggled in his little beak. Then at his third appearance, he was eating a string of bugs caught in a spider web. One website accurately describes what I observed when it wrote, “They forage actively in trees or shrubs, mainly eating insects, insect eggs and spiders. They may hover over foliage (gleaning), or fly to catch insects in flight (hawking).” Walton County, Georgia  Blue-gray Gnatcatcher eating a string of insects off a spider's thread. Walton County, Georgia. Monday, November 19, 2018.  The blue-gray gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea, is a very small songbird in the eastern and southwestern United States, and Mexico. They forage actively in trees or shrubs, mainly eating insects, insect eggs and spiders. Photographed in fall in Walton County, Monroe, Georgia USA.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work. Psalms 111:2  Great Blue Heron with open beak bill, Georgia USA Great Blue Heron in swamp ecosystem. Photographed in fall in Walton County, Monroe, Georgia USA. The great blue heron Ardea herodias is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North America. Monday, November 19 - It was a lucky lunch break for me, watching the River Otters close up, spotting a stately Great Blue Heron, and adding two more bird species to my Walton list, one being a lifer. I skipped the treadmill on my Monday lunch break because I was waiting on a rescue to arrive. Once the pup was picked up, I wandered to the upper pond and snuck through the brush to the back side. The two River Otters were there feeding on fish and didn’t notice my presence. White watching the Otters, a small hawk streaked across the sky and into a large pine. Based upon his size, I was pretty sure that this tiny raptor was a Sharp-shinned Hawk. My only previous photograph was of one I found deceased on the roadside. The second addition to my Walton list was the Dark-eyed Junco. Not a lifer for me, but my first photograph of one in Walton County. He was flitting amongst the dirt hills along with several Song Sparrows and Chipping Sparrows. The fog lifted around 11 AM, and made for a bright sunny afternoon.  Great Blue Heron in wetlands habitat, Georgia USA  Great Blue Heron in wetlands habitat, Georgia USA Great Blue Heron in swamp ecosystem. Photographed in fall in Walton County, Monroe, Georgia USA. The great blue heron Ardea herodias is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North America.  Great Blue Heron in swamp ecosystem. Photographed in fall in Walton County, Monroe, Georgia USA. The great blue heron Ardea herodias is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North America. Tuesday, November 20 Today: Sunny, with a high near 58. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.  One of the many abundant Carolina Wrens out singing in the bright sun. Walton County, Georgia. Wednesday, November 21 - Today was a half-day of work for Thanksgiving Eve. The phones were mostly silent, and having come in early, I was afforded a mid-morning bird break. As has happened before, several beautiful Wood Ducks blasted off from the secluded end of the upper pond. But this time I anticipated their presence and had the camera ready. I just wish I had a slightly faster shutter speed already dialed in. Even 1/1000 second is fast enough to freeze the fast launching Woodies! In noticed something down between the duckweed bog and beaver wetlands. Although I'd been here hundreds of times, usually twice a day, I have no idea how a large aerial yellow jacket nest had escaped my attention. Today: Sunny, with a high near 58.  Several beautiful Wood Ducks blasted off once again from the secluded end of the upper pond.  Although not high quality, I love this shot because it reveals the ruby crown that gives this Kinglet his name.  The fall sunshine beams through the pines behind this Hermit Thrush perched on a branch in fall. Walton County, GA. November 2018. The hermit thrush`s song has been described as `the finest sound in nature`.  Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus, songbird perched on a branch at sunrise in fall. Walton County, GA. November 2018. The hermit thrush`s song has been described as `the finest sound in nature`.  High key image of Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus, songbird perched on a branch at sunrise in fall. Walton County, GA. November 2018. The hermit thrush`s song has been described as `the finest sound in nature`.  Song Sparrow songbird perched on thorn brier with golden sunshine in Fall in Walton County, GA. November 2018. The song sparrow Melospiza melodia is a medium-sized American sparrow. Among the native sparrows in North America, it is easily one of the most abundant species.  My first photo of a Hairy Woodpecker in Walton County, GA.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Psalm 104:20 He sends the night and darkness, when all the forest folk come out.  Two bats swoop, twirl and dive after the evening insects at sunset in my backyard. (Photo-merge of two separate photographs taken during this session) Saturday, 5:00 PM - Watching all the various blackbirds fly past a waxing gibbous moon to their evening roosts before sunset: a flock of 100-plus Red-winged Blackbirds staging into their evening roost; twelve Black Vultures more casually soar into their nighttime evening abode; thirty or more Common Grackles cut across the sky. But two swoop and dive in my backyard feeding on the evening insects... wait, those aren’t birds!  A group of 100+ Red-winged blackbirds stage into an evening roost. Specs of red can be seen on many of their shoulders when enlarging the photograph.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. 1 Kings 18:45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.  A trio of Ring-necked Ducks returned to the pond to mark the beginning of "duck season" on Walton Pond. Tuesday, November 13, 2018. Tuesday, November 13 - All day long on Monday was a cold, heavy rain. It never seemed to let up even for a minute. Needless to say, there was no birding photography for me! By Tuesday morning, it had rained so much that the fallen pine tree it the upper pond where the turtles normally bask was under water. Both the main and the upper ponds were very high. The surface area of the duckweed bog has at least doubled. But Tuesday afternoon, although still cold, wet and windy, the birds were out between showers. The first new ducks of the winter season arrived on the main pond. Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 55. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.  A male/female pair of Ring-necked Ducks; Walton County, Georgia. Tuesday, November 15, 2018. Thursday, November 15, 2018 - The rain continued all day Wednesday and today. Yet another new duck for the season appeared on the upper pond; a single male Hooded Merganser. He was a bit nervous with my presence, swam to the far end of the pond, and then took flight back toward me when he got to the other end. Fog/Mist, 43°F. A 20 percent chance of rain before 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 47. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.  Male Hooded Merganser; Walton County, Georgia.  White-throated Sparrow; Walton County, Georgia. Thursday, November 15, 2018.  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. Revelation 22:2 ...and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  A rare visit of a Red-winged Blackbird to my backyard bird feeder; Clarke County, Georgia. Sunday, November 11, 2018. It is fall here in Georgia (USA); one of the most beautiful times of the year. The hot weather finally breaks and the forest palette breaks forth in heartwarming tones of yellows, browns and reds. Every day of fall is a good reason to get out with your camera. Whether it is landscapes or wildlife, the brilliant hues of changing leaves create such wonderful photo backdrops and frames. But fall is more than for photography. Fall is to get out and enjoy; take a hike; walk a mountain path; enjoy an overlook. It is a time to get out and refresh the body with a lung full of fresh air. Local farms are alive with fall festivals, apple pickings, pumpkins, and corn mazes. Fall is also a time for birding. The fall migrations are underway and little feathered friends that don’t normally appear in your hometown may make quick cameos at your feeder. Brilliantly colored warblers sit as yellow ornaments in the changing trees. Simply put: get outside and enjoy fall… with our without your camera. I recently finished A Place Called Sweet Apple by Celestine Sibley. In this short book about moving to the Georgia countryside, the author laments, “Sometimes when I stand in the back door in the morning watching the sun come up and the moon go down I think of this with a sense of loss and regret: it’s so wasteful to live in a world you don’t [go out and] see.” Athens, Clarke County, Georgia  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations. Psalms 104 The Message  The clouds broke and the day warmed to around 70 degrees. The turtles lined the pond banks and logs to bask. Walton County, GA. Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at 3:34 PM. Tuesday, November 6, 2018- A strangely warm 64° morning. Storms came through in the morning but the clouds broke and cleared towards lunch. I spotted another river otter on the flooded beaver wetlands behind the animal shelter last Tuesday afternoon. He didn't see me and didn't become alarmed. I watched him for several minutes as he chewed on a Leopard Frog just about 15 feet from me. He then swam right by my feet and moved along. Today: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 4pm, then a slight chance of showers. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 71.  White-throated Sparrow; Walton County, GA. Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at 11:28 AM.  Yellow-bellied Sapsucker; Walton County, GA. Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at 11:26 AM.  River Otter munching on a Leopard Frog; Walton County, GA. Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at 3:00 PM. Wednesday, November 7, 2018 - a bright, clear morning was overshadowed by advancing clouds by the afternoon. A bit of a birding walk on my lunch break gave me some needed stress relief and also added a Hermit Thrush to my Walton bird list. Today: Increasing clouds, with a high near 71. A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2 PM.  Hermit Thrust. Not a 'life bird', but a photo first for me in Walton County. Wednesday, November 7, 2018 at 12:32 PM.  Yellow-bellied Sapsucker; Walton County, Georgia. Wednesday, November 7, 2018 at 12:26 PM. Thursday, November 8, 2018 - an absolutely beautiful fall day. A bit of a cool breeze; showers of golden leaves falling with each gust. Two young deer bounded off the upper pond at my approach.  Northern Mockingbird songbird, Mimus polyglottos. Photographed in fall, November 2018, Walton County, Georgia USA. The northern mockingbird breeds in southeastern Canada, the United States, northern Mexico.  Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura. Perched on a dead tree. Photographed in fall, November 2018, Walton County, Georgia USA. The turkey vulture is a scavenger and feeds almost exclusively on carrion.  Brown Thrasher songbird. Photographed in fall, November 2018, Walton County, Georgia USA. The brown thrasher Toxostoma rufum is a bird in the family Mimidae, which also includes the New World catbirds and mockingbirds.  Although not a rare bird, it is a rare occurance to see a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher here in Walton County so late in the fall.  Brown Thrasher; Georgia's State Bird. Walton County, Georgia. Thursday, November 8, 2018.  Psalms 68:6 "God makes homes for those who are abandoned; He makes free those who are bound with chains."  Black Mouth Cur dog rescue adoption photography. Need stock photos? Download from my gallery on www.dreamstime.com. 100% of funds support waltonpets adoption photography. Monday, 1:41 PM -“Hazel” was a sweet and social Black Mouth Cur mixed breed dog that came into the animal shelter on October 31, 2018. She was picked up with two cute puppies, possible her own. There is no telling if she escaped her owner’s yard, or was dumped out on the side of the country road where she was found. My guess is the latter since no owner ever came to the shelter to look for her. Her two puppies, cute and playful young pups, were rescued right away but “Hazel” wasn’t getting much interest from her initial kennel intake photograph. So it was time to go outdoors for a photography session! An overcast fall day provided the perfect lighting and backdrop for this pretty pup. Hopefully soon she’d be noticed and received into a new, loving home. No longer waiting on the side of the road, lost and waiting for her family to return. "Hazel" was photographed for the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Monroe, Georgia on November 5, 2018 and put on the shelter's adoption website www.waltonpets.net.. She was rescued on November 6 by Pound Puppies and Kittens Rescue! She was sponsored by pledges to the rescue from Anne R., Jeanette, Anne M, and Janet. Thanks all!  Black Mouth Cur dog rescue adoption photography. Need stock photos? Download from my gallery on www.dreamstime.com. 100% of funds support waltonpets adoption photography.  Black Mouth Cur dog rescue adoption photography. Need stock photos? Download from my gallery on www.dreamstime.com. 100% of funds support waltonpets adoption photography.  Lost dog on the side of the road Female not spayed Black Mouth Cur outdoors on leash in fall. Sad puppy eyes. Dog rescue pet adoption photograph for Walton County Animal Control humane society shelter, Monroe, Georgia USA. Need stock photos? Download from my gallery on www.dreamstime.com. 100% of funds support waltonpets adoption photography.  Black Mouth Cur dog rescue adoption photography. Need stock photos? Download from my gallery on www.dreamstime.com. 100% of funds support waltonpets adoption photography. |
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In December 1993 I came to know the Designer and Creator of this wonderful planet and its creatures: Jesus Christ.
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